Details

Abstract of corresponding document: US6463713
Mass manufacturing and packaging apparatus (10) of products in roll form, in particular paper products including, from upstream to downstream, a cutting station (12) for cutting very long consecutive logs (20) of a specified diameter into consecutive sequences of several rolls (22) of shorter length, and an upstream conveyor (14) to move the sequences of rolls (22) from the cutting station (12) to a feeder station (16) distributing the rolls (22) to several automated packaging stations (18 ) Characterized in that a roll-switching system (26, 37) of the feeder station (16) allows directing each sequence of rolls (22) toward a specific set of packaging stations (18) which is different from the set towards which the previous sequence of rolls (22) was directed.
  Claims:
1. Unit (10) for the mass production and packaging of products in the form of rolls, particularly paper rolls, of the type which comprises, from upstream to downstream, a cutting station (12) intended for cutting successive logs (20) of long length and of a given diameter into successive trains made up of a number of adjacent rolls (22) of shorter length, and an upstream conveyor (14) for conveying the trains of rolls (22) from the cutting station (12) to a distribution station (16), which distributes the rolls (22) to a number of automated packaging stations (18), characterized in that a system of switches (26, 37) of the distribution station (16) makes it possible to direct each train of rolls (22) as a continuous and regular flow towards a defined series of packaging stations (18) which is different from that series towards which the preceding train of rolls (22) was directed, and in that the upstream conveyor (12) is substantially horizontal and independently drives the train of rolls (22) in a given direction at a speed which is controlled with respect to the speed of the trains leaving the cutting station (12), in order to separate the trains with a minimum spacing to facilitate their switching .
2. Production and packaging unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the system of switches comprises a series of vertical blades (28) which can rotate simultaneously about parallel vertical shafts (30), these blades being parallel to one another and being able to occupy, from one train of rolls (22) to the next, two or more distinct angular positions with respect to the advancing direction of the conveyor (14) in order to direct the rolls (22) of one and the same train towards one or another series of downstream conveyors (34) associated with the respective angular position, the downstream conveyors (34) conveying the rolls (22) towards a series of packaging stations (18) associated with the respective angular position.

3. Production and packaging unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the system of switches (37) comprises a series of guides in the form of fixed parallel vertical plates (36) spaced apart by the width of a roll (22), between which plates are arranged perpendicularly intermediate conveyors (38) which are able to rotate about a horizontal shaft (40), which are coplanar, and which are capable of simultaneously occupying, from one train of rolls (22) to the next, two or more different angular positions in order to direct the rolls (22) of one and the same train towards one or the other of two series of downstream conveyors (44), which are spread over two levels, each series of downstream conveyors (44) associated with each respective angular position conveying the rolls (22) towards a series of packaging stations (18) associated with the respective angular position.
4. Production and packaging unit (10) according to either one or Claims 2 and 3, characterized in that it comprises a control unit (CPU) which receives information from elements of the production unit (10) and controls other elements of the production unit (10 ).
5. Production and packaging unit (10) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the control unit (CPU) receives at least one signal (V 12) representing the speed of the rolls (22) leaving the cutting station (12), and a passage signal (P 12) indicating the passage of the trains of rolls (22).
6. Production unit (10) according to Claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the control unit (CPU) calculates the distance between two successive trains of rolls (22) and then, under the action of an internal program (PROG), controls the angular position of the blades (28) or of the intermediate conveyors (37) and the speed of the conveyor upstream (14).

Description:
The invention relates to a manufacturing and packaging.
The invention relates more particularly a unit manufacturing and packaging series of rolled products including tissue paper or cellulose wadding to health or domestic use.  The unit includes the chain, a cutting intended to cut rolls successive long and a diameter of successive trains spaced or not several rolls of smaller length, and a conveyor upstream channel Train rolls job cutting to the post of division, which distributes train by train rolls in several automated packing.
There are many examples of manufacturing units of rolled products to health or domestic use.
The principle of such manufacturing units is to achieve simultaneously on a single production line every stage of the realization of rolls, loading from the rolls long called "logs" to the packaging of cut rolls and more small length.
Many types of positions are cut. This overall process involving saws or band saws disk, to ensure a steady log cutting and final rolls.
After passing through the post cutting, trains roll from the logs are transported by conveyor to one or more packaging.
A problem usually arises during shipment rolls job cutting to the post of packaging, because distribution systems are known drawback to the buildup of rolls, even the "jam", which can lead to the stop the production unit.
To prevent the rolls wrapped does not accumulate in the conveyor system was devised to involve out of the unit cut a distribution, which is in charge of distributing the rolls not yet packed between posts packaging.
Generally, the distribution of posts and associated conveyor system to include a selection whose role is to guide rollers to several downstream conveyors leading everyone to a post box.
This could for example be achieved by a distribution similar to that described in the document US-A-4,440,289.
The post of distribution of this document is an integrated upstream conveyor belt is a central, above which is arranged a component, which is mounted in rotation around an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the central belt and is likely to hunt rolls to one side or the other of the central belt in the direction of several downstream conveyors, to distribute and balance the load roller permissible posts packaging.
However, this provision has several major drawbacks. Indeed, the post of division can not hunt a limited number of rolls at a time, the central laying carpet momentarily each roll next to the component prior to his discharge, which slows the overall speed of delivery rolls in 'manufacturing unit. Moreover, direct contact component on the rollers may distort or the dirty, which is highly prejudicial to their subsequent marketing.

To remedy this shortcoming, the invention provides a breakdown of contacts between eliminating the post of distribution and rolls and does not slow down the speed of delivery rollers in the manufacturing unit.
To this end, the invention provides a manufacturing unit of the type described above, wherein a system of switches position to direct distribution allows each train rolls to a set of posts packing different from that to which was directed train rolls precedent, and what
conveyor upstream is substantially horizontal and leads regardless trains rolled in a given direction at a speed controlled compared to the speed of trains leaving the post of cutting to separate trains with a minimum spacing facilitating referral.  According to other features of the invention:
 * System switches into a series of vertical blades moving simultaneously in rotation around parallel vertical lines, which are parallel to each other, which are separated by the width of a roll, which are likely to occupy, a set of rollers to the next, two distinct angular positions relative to the direction of progress of the conveyor rollers to guide the same train to a series or another conveyor downstream, coupled with the angular position considered, conveyors routing downstream rolls to a series of packaging associated with the angular position considered; the system switches into a series of vertical blades moving simultaneously in rotation around parallel vertical lines, which are parallel to each other, which are separated by the width of a roll, which are likely to occupy, da set of rollers to the next, two distinct angular positions relative to the direction of progress of the conveyor rollers to guide the same train to a series or another conveyor downstream, coupled with the angular position under conveyors routing downstream rolls to a series of packaging associated with the angular position considered;
   * The unit has a manufacturing unit that receives information from elements of the production unit and controlling other elements of the manufacturing unit, the unit has a production unit that receives information from elements of the production unit and controlling other elements of the manufacturing unit;           * Unity of command calculates the distance between two successive sets of rolls, and then under the action of an internal control, the angular position of the knives or intermediate conveyors and speed conveyor upstream.